Into The Old World Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

My Love Affair With Books & Splash Of Our Worlds are hosting the Into The Old World Reading Challenge.  Here's what they say:

Eligible Books: Any books published BEFORE 2009 . All Genres included

The Official Rules :
- Both bloggers and non-bloggers can participate.
- Bloggers and non-bloggers can join the challenge.

- All genres are welcome

At the end of each month,we will be checking up on each review to see whether the books reviewed are eligible for the challenge. Moreover each month the scoreboard will be updated with the number of books for each participant.

In the end of the year 2 people will be given a 10 $ Gift Certificate (to Amazon or any other online bookstore). 1 winner will be the one with the highest number of books read and reviewed. The 2nd winner will be chosen randomly regardless of number of books.

To join, go to Into The Old World Reading Challenge.

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2011

Stephanie of Books Are a Girl's Best Friend is hosting her very first challenge, the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.  Here's what she says:

When I wrote back in September at the end of Book Blogger Appreciation week that one of my blogging goals was to hold a challenge, I had in mind that it was going to be a YA historical fiction challenge because it is my favourite genre and what I read and review most. Also, as far as I know from searching around the Internet over the last couple of months, there isn't a historical fiction challenge particularly for young adult books. It is a wonderful genre that is growing in popularity very quickly as there have been many fantastic releases this year and upcoming ones for 2011. I hope it will encourage people to try the genre and make them fall in love with history!

The Challenge

Are you looking for  an escape from the contemporary world?
Are you a big historical fiction fan who has never delved into the YA section of the genre?
Or maybe you have been meaning to try a new genre for a while....?
Or are you a YA historical fiction lover already?

If so, this challenge is for you!

Levels

You can choose any of the following levels to aim for. I have started it from just reading one YA historical fiction novel in 2011 for those who just want to get a small taste of the genre to start off with:

1) Inquisitive- read 1-3 YA HF novel in 2011
2)  Fascinated- Read 5 YA HF novels in 2011
3)  Captivated- Read 10 YA HF novels in 2011
4)   Head over heels in love- Read 15 YA HF novels in 2011
5) Addicted-  Read 15+ YA HF novels in 2011

Rules

• All books read for the challenge must be YA (or for slightly younger children.) For the purposes of this challenge, anything set in the past and centering around the historical period will count.
• The challenge is open to everyone
• It does not matter when the books were published or what time period they were set in but you may want to set yourself a small goal e.g. read 2 2011 releases

 To join, go to the YA Historical Fiction Challenge.

2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

My Reader's Block is hosting the 2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. She writes:

Introducing: The 2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. A challenge for all you mystery lovers out there who already love mysteries from the years prior to 1960 and also anyone who's ever thought, "I should give Agatha Christie (Dorothy L Sayers...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...etc) a try."

Here are the rules:

1. All books must have been written before 1960 and be from the mystery category (the post about the challenge offers suggestions for authors)
2. You are welcome to count these books towards any other challenges as well.
3. Reviews are not necessary to participate.If you do not have a blog, post to the comments (on the post about the challenge) what your challenge level will be and then post again when you have completed your challenge (include a list of books read).
4. No matter what level you choose, please try at least two different vintage authors.
5. Once you declare your challenge level...you are locked in for that number of books. But you may change your list of books at any time.

There will be a prize for everyone who completes their challenge (check out the challenge post for more details).

Challenge Levels:

• In a Murderous Mood: 4-6 Books
• Get a Clue: 7-9 Books
• Hot on the Trail: 10-12 Books
• Capture the Criminal: 13-15 Books
• Take 'Em to Trial: 16+ Books

OR

• The Golden Age Girls*: Read 5-7 books from female authors from the vintage years
• Cherchez Le Homme: Read 5-7 books from male authors from the vintage years

For more information and to sign up (through November 30, 2011), visit the post about the challenge.

2011 Global Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Hosted by Dorte, the 2011 Global Challenge allows readers to choose from several levels of participation ... all which encourage reading from around the globe.

1. The Easy Challenge (Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2011):

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).

*From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

2. The Medium Challenge (Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2011):

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (as above)

*Try to find novels from fourteen different countries or states.

3. The Expert Challenge (Read three novels from each of these continents in the course of 2011):

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (as above)

*Select novels from twenty-one different countries or states if possible. (For Australasia, selecting a different state for your last book will be acceptable)

To learn more and sign up, visit the dedicated blog!

2011 Aussie Author Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Joanne from Booklover Book Reviews will be hosting the Aussie Author Challenge again in 2011. She writes:

Whether you are a patriotic Aussie, an aspiring or armchair tourist or simply an international reader wanting to discover some talented new authors with like-minded readers, this 2011 Aussie Author Challenge could be for you!

This year this special page here at Booklover Book Reviews will be your one-stop shop for the challenge, including a dedicated chatbox for this challenge

The goal is to read and review books written by Australian Authors - (physical books, ebooks and audiobooks, fiction and non-fiction)

Choose from two participation levels:

• TOURIST - Read and review 3 books by 3 different Aussie Authors
• TRUE BLUE - Read and review 12 books by Australian authors (at least 9 different authors)

TO learn more and to join the challenge, visit the post about the challenge.

Harlequin/Silhouette 2011 Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Yvonne is again, hosting the Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge.  Here's what she says:

It's that time of year again when we end one year's challenge and begin the next. I did terribly this year, but hopefully next year will be a better one for me. Here's the info:

Rules:

1) Challenge is from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2011.

2) All of the books must be from the Harlequin family of imprints (includes Mira books as well)

3) Read one book for each of these requirements:

1. A relationship in the title (mother, father, brother, sister, etc.)
2. A weather condition in the title (rain, snow, storm, etc.)
3. An occupation in the title (cop, nurse, doctor, etc.)
4. A book with the author's first or last name beginning with "C"
5. A name in the title (Mary, Sam, etc.)

Other information:

A list ahead of time is not necessary and may be changed at any time
Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebook
Books may be used for other challenges
Go to eHarlequin for book information, anything you can purchase there counts for the challenge.

To join, go to Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge.

Amazon’s Best of 2010 Reading Challenge

November 5, 2010 - November 30, 2011

Kelly of Reading With Martinis is hosting her very first challenge, the Amazon's Best of 2010 Reading Challenge.  Here's what she says:

Amazon.com released its list(s) of the best books published in 2010. I love lists and awards, so I am always thrilled when Amazon declares their “best of” books. Amazon breaks the list down into to categories: Editor Picks and Customer Favorites.

Rules of the Challenge
So, here’s how the challenge works. Pick 10 books from the Editor’s list and 10 books from the Customer Favorites list, and read all 20 books by November 30, 2011.

• The books from the two lists cannot overlap. It must be 20 unique books.
• Books you’ve already read cannot be counted.
• Books you read for this challenge can be included in your count for other challenges and vice versa, as long as the book(s) is(are) part of the 20 you have selected.
• You do not have to tell me which books you pick, but if you keep a list somewhere, I would love to drop by and see it!

To join, go to Amazon's Best of 2010 Reading Challenge.

Middle East Reading Challenge

August 1, 2010 through July 31, 2011

Helen's Book Blog just let us know that she is hosting the Middle East Reading Challenge. It's not too late to join.  Here's what she says:

What do I consider the Middle East?
The Middle East is a nebulous term with each person defining it in a different way (it's also a very Euro-centric term so please forgive me for that). However I am going to use it for lack of a better way to define the area covered by this reading challenge. So, what is the Middle East? Traditionally it included only the countries in Asia plus Egypt. Some define it as countries with Arabic as the dominant language, while others say it is all Islamic countries. For the purposes of this challenge I am going to stick with the more traditional/geographic approach including the countries around the Arabian peninsula. I struggled about what to do with Turkey and have chosen to leave it out as they currently choose to be associated more with Europe. Likewise, I am not including the "stan" countries as they are culturally, linguistically, and ethnically different (and, officially, they are in Central Asia).

What books qualify for this reading challenge?
The author of the book may be from the countries listed below or the book can be set in one of the countries included in this challenge. Fiction, non-fiction, YA and Adult lit, graphic novels, audio books, books for other challenge... they all count.

There are no levels for this challenge, my hope is that we'll each read whatever number works for us, learning to appreciate and understand the Middle East more along the way.

To join, go to the Middle East Reading Challenge.

Jewish Literature Challenge

December 1, 2010 - April 26, 2011

Callista is hosting the Jewish Literature Challenge.  Here's what she says:

What: Reading books by Jewish Authors or about Judaism

When: December 1, 2010 (First Night of Hanukkah) to April 26, 2011 (End of Passover)

Who: Anyone who wants to participate! Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike

Where: Right here of course! You can also post your picks and reviews to your own blog if you have one.

Levels

1. Read 1 book that fits the criteria
2. Read 3 books that fit the criteria.
3. Read 5+ books that fit the criteria.

Are you wondering more about what books are okay?
Fiction, Non-fiction, memoirs, Adult books, Teen books, Children's books, books about the Holocaust, books about anti-semitism, books about Jewish Life, Jewish Culture, Jewish Customs. Books by Jewish Authors no matter what the subject.

 To Join, go to Jewish Literature Challenge.

The Complete Booker 2011 Challenge

January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

Laura is hosting The Complete Booker 2011 Challenge. Here's what she says:

The Complete Booker originated in August, 2007 to bring together book lovers and book bloggers interested in reading winners of The Man Booker Prize for Fiction. In 2008 we also began posting reviews of short- and long-listed nominees. In three short years, The Complete Booker has blossomed into a rich source of information. We now have reviews of every single Booker Prize winner (except 1977 is missing ... what's up with that? Has no one reviewed Paul Scott's Staying On?). Numerous short- and long-listed titles have also been reviewed here.

Each year brings more interesting nominees, and the prize archives are filled with excellent literature. Whether you're new to the Booker Prize or an avid fan, you'll find there are several ways to contribute to The Complete Booker.

There are several levels of participation:

1. Pick-a-Mix of Six: read 6 winners or nominees from the short- or long-lists
2. A Booker's Dozen: read 12 winners or nominees from the short- or long-lists
3. Booker Devotee: read the 2011 shortlist (6 books)
4. Booker Fanatic: read the 2011 longlist (13 books)

Guidelines:

• Overlaps with other challenges are permitted.
• Book selections don't have to be posted right away, and lists may be changed at any time.
• To participate, you must be a contributor to The Complete Booker blog. To become a contributor, please email the moderator (an email address is required, so comments to this post won't work). Note: you can also be a contributor to The Complete Booker blog without taking part in the challenge.
• Publish a challenge post on The Complete Booker blog, describing your specific goals for this challenge.

To join, go to The Complete Booker 2011 Challenge.

Just For Fun Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Dollycas's Thoughts is hosting the Just  For  Fun  Reading Challenge.  Here's what she says:

As bloggers we are all on timetables to read books, get reviews posted, host giveaways, etc. But we also travel around to other blogs and see books we would just like to read because of the bloggers recommendation or the cover or title catches our interest. The Meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” adds more books to my Wish List and To-Be-Read pile every week.

As followers you get our recommendations, win books from us, pick up books at the library or purchase them from a store.

But our lives are so busy these books sometimes sit in our To-Be-Read piles for months or even years.

This year I am hosting this challenge to encourage you to read some of those books.

12 books in 12 months.

The Rules:

• Sign-ups will close at 11:59 p.m. CST on January 31, 2011.

• Read 1, yes, just 1 book for fun each month. Bloggers if you feel compelled to review the book you can but it is not required. 

• All book formats are allowed, printed, audio, e-book.

• These books can be counted in your total books read for the year challenge but hope you don’t cross them over to any other challenges. They are supposed to be read JUST FOR FUN!

• Everyone that completes the Challenge, 12 books in 12 months read JUST FOR FUN will be entered in a drawing for a $25 dollar Amazon.com Gift Certificate or $25 at The Book Depository for International Participants.

• There will also be one lucky winner that will win all 12 of my books read just for fun! (US Participants Only for this prize)

To join, go to Just  For  Fun  Reading Challenge.

Shakespeare Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Elena is hosting the Shakespeare Reading Challenge.  Here's what she says about it:

Announcing the Shakespeare Reading Challenge for 2011!! I may live to regret this insanity but for the moment my plan is to read one play per month all year, following the chronology given in the Riverside Shakespeare. I will be updating this page soon, so check back and see the method in this madness and how you can take part. 

Levels:

1. Puck: Read 4 plays over the year, 1 of which may be replaced by a performance
2. Desdemona: Read 6 plays, 2 of which may be replaced by a performance
3. Henry V: Read 12 plays, 3 of which may be replaced by a performance

The Rules:

1. All plays must be read between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Anything begun before that cannot be included.
2. Audio versions are also acceptable but all plays must be unabridged.
3. You don't need to list your plays ahead of time but you may, if you'd like.
4. Review pages for each month will be created but are optional.

To join in the "insanity", go to the Shakespeare Reading Challenge.

Seconds Challenge 2011

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Katy from A Few More Pages is hosting the 2011 2nds Challenge - a challenge that encourages readers to read a second book from an author. Katy writes:

Have you read a book by an author that you really enjoyed and felt moved to read another of the author's works? Or are you thinking to give an author another try even if you didn't like your first taste of their work? If yes, then this challenge is for you! You're going to go back for seconds of an author that you've only read once. The great thing about this challenge is that it's not just for your second in a series books, but the second time you've read an author as well.

Guidelines for the challenge:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. There are four levels to choose from in this challenge:

• Just a spoonful - Read 3 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• A few more bites - Read 6 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• A full plate - Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• All you can eat - Read 20 books (or more) that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.

3. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Any genre counts.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011. Don't start reading until January.

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

1st in a Series Challenge 2011

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Katy at A Few More Pages has picked up the reins from previous hosts, and is hosting the 2011 First in a Series Challenge.

Guidelines for the Challenge:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
2. There are four levels for this challenge:

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

3. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Any genre counts.
4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011.

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

2011 Futuristic/Sci-Fi Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Tasha at Book Obsessed is hosting the 2011 Futuristic/Sci-Fi Reading Challenge. She writes:

The goal of this challenge is to read novels that take place in the future or on an alternate planet. Your books can be of any format (ie. paperback, ebook, audiobook, etc.). No short stories. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine. You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.

**Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

There are several levels to choose from:

1. Explorer: 4 futuristic/sci-fi novels
2. Pioneer: 8 futuristic/sci-fi novels
3. Dweller: 12 futuristic/sci-fi novels

Sign up on the post about the challenge.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics Challenge

January 1 - March 31, 2011

ii and Madeleine over at Amazingly Pretty and Somewhat Literary are hosting the Special Topics in Calamity Physics Challenge. They write:

It has been a little quiet over here lately, but that is only because we have been making plans and cooking up something fun for y'all. Since we had so much fun with the T4MC, we decided that it was time for us to host a challenge of our own! We both adored Special Topics in Calamity Physics that we read and reviewed in September so our challenge is very much inspired by this very book. The chapters of the book or the "required reading" are in the form of other books, and this is the list we'll be reading from and invite y'all to read with us too.

The challenge offers several levels of participation and is based on a point system depending on the books you read.

Levels of Participation:

• Freshman 0-200 points
• Sophomore 201-400 points
• Senior 401-600 points
• Undergraduate 601-800 points
• Graduate 801-900 points
• PhD 901-950 points

Point System and Books:

50 points:
Othello - William Shakespeare

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë

The House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

40 points:

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Pierre Chordelos de Laclos

Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

Pygmalion - George Bernard Shaw

The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie

30 points:

Moby-Dick - Herman Melville

A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway

Women in Love - D. H. Lawrence

"The Housebreaker of Shady Hill" - John Cheever

Sweet Bird of Youth - Tennessee Williams

20 points:

Laughter in the Dark - Vladimir Nabokov

The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales - Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch

A Room With a View - E. M. Forster

Howl and Other Poems - Allen Ginsberg

The Taming of The Shrew - William Shakespeare

15 points:

Deliverance - James Dickey

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest - Ken Kesey

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez

Bleak House - Charles Dickens

10 points:

The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler

Justine - Marquis de Sade

Quer Pasticciaccio Brutto de Via Merulana - Carlo Emilio Gadda

Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe

The Nocturnal Conspiracy - Smoke Wyannoch Harvey

5 points:

Che Guevara Talks To Young People - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna

"Good Country People" - Flannery O'Connor

The Trial - Franz Kafka

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Metamorphoses - Ovid

100 points:
Paradise Lost - John Milton

To learn more and sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Weekly Event: Most Wanted Monday

Every Monday

Mandy of The Well-Read Wife is hosting a new weekly event, Most Wanted Monday.  Here's what she says:

The purpose of Most Wanted Monday is to post on your blog regarding an *ARC (or even a book that’s already out) that you cannot wait to get your hands on. Hopefully, this will generate lots of hype for books that we are excited to read, and maybe it will up our chances of getting our hands on that coveted ARC!

Rules:

1. Grab a graphic.
2. Title your post Most Wanted Monday. You may also include a subtitle if you want.
3. State that this is a weekly meme hosted by WellReadWife.com every Monday, and link back to my home page.
4. Write about whatever ARC or book you are most excited about getting your hands on that particular week. For example, I will usually write about an ARC that I am dying to read. The book can be any genre, YA or Adult.

To participate, go to Most Wanted Monday.

One Two Theme Reading Challenge

Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2011

Alex from The Sleepless Reader and Joanna from It's All About Me are hosting the new challenge. One, Two, Theme. Here's what they say:

When we met up it turned out that we're both curious about pretty much everything and we always want to know more, more, more about specific topics.  We're sure that there are a lot of book lovers who feel the same, so we decided to organize this themed challenge.

Pick at least three themes and dive in - you can read the rules here, but basically each theme you pick is a separate block. For block one you need to read one book, for block two, two books and so on. From block two onwards you must have at least one each of fiction and non-fiction books.

The only rules are these:

1. You should have a minimum of 3 themes/3 levels, so a minimum of 6 books. You decide how many levels above that you want to go. Feel free to have more than one topic per level.

2. For themes that require more than one book (so all except the first one) you need to read at least one each of fiction and non-fiction.

You can combine this challenge with any others you're participating in. 

This is a very brief overview of the challenge.  To learn more and sign up, go to One, Two, Theme.

The Wolves: Reading in 2011 - EVENT

Hosted by Emily, Sarah, Frances, EL Fay, Richard, and Claire

Last year a group of bloggers got together and shared reads. They enjoyed it so much that they are doing it again this year and inviting other readers to share with them. Emily writes:

With the discussion of Ricardas Gavelis's Vilnius Poker at the end of this month, my group of "non-structured" friends and I will be nearing the end of a full year of shared reads, and speaking for myself, the experience has been fantastic. Sarah, Frances, EL Fay, Richard, and (not blogging right now but still dropping by the discussions) Claire: we've had a blast reading and writing together. I love the fact that we can all be honest about our enthusiasm for or frustration with the chosen books, without worrying about hurting each others' feelings or appearing ridiculous. I love that this is a group of people who also like to tackle the kind of weird, challenging books that get me excited, and who share my sometimes-cracked sense of humor. GROUP HUG, you guys!

Ahem.

So luckily, we're re-upping our bookish lease for 2011, with a brand-new button from the Hogarth Press (thanks, Frances!) and even a real name—because "non-structured reading group" is a bit of a mouthful, we thought it might be nice to revisit our Woolf in Winter project from last January and February, and call ourselves The Wolves.

Discussions will begin during the last weekend of the stated month. Here's the schedule:

• January (EL Fay): The Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska
• February (Emily): Our Horses in Egypt by Rosalind Belben
• March (Richard): Conversation in the Cathedral, by Mario Vargas Llosa
• April (Sarah): The Dodecahedron, or Frames for a Frame, by Paul Glennon
• May (Frances): What Ever Happened to Modernism?, by Gabriel Josipovici
• June (Claire): The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz
• July (EL Fay): Snow, by Orhan Pamuk
• August (Frances): The End of the Story, by Lydia Davis
• September (Richard): The Memoirs of Hadrian, by Marguerite Yourcenar
• October (Sarah): House of Leaves, by Mark Danielewski
• November (Emily): The Planetarium, by Nathalie Sarraute
• December (Claire): Buying a Fishing Rod for my Grandfather, by Xingjian Gao

To participate go to the blog whose hosting for that month.

I Want More 2011 Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Tea Time with Marce is hosting the I Want More 2011 Book Challenge. She writes:

Have you read a book and at the end said you must read another by this author but haven't? Then this Challenge is for you, what are you waiting for. There are so many amazing authors but sometimes we get caught up in reading all the new we forget about the authors that have already impressed, excited us, gave us what all readers want, a great read, that wow moment, so this Challenge is to show all the authors that have pleased us already how thankful we are by reading more of their literary works.

Details:

• All Genres are Welcome
• This challenge does NOT include Series, only stand alone
• See Levels below, you can change at any time if increasing, you cannot decrease once signed up.
• All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc
• You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.

There will be Monthly Giveaways - More details to follow soon on Tea Time With Marce.

Level of Participation

1. Waited to long: 2 - 4 books
2. Give me more: 5 - 8 books
3. Never to much: 9 - 12 books

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

Reading Madly Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Unruly Reader is hosting the Reading Madly Challenge. She writes:

If you’re a Mad Men person, this reading challenge is for you! The challenge: Read books related to Mad Men. And when I say “related,” the relationship can be tangential… You get to choose.

Think:

• books read by characters on the show
• books published in the late 1950s and early/mid-1960s
• books about the early/mid-1960s: JFK, LBJ, feminism, race relations, space race, Cold War, Vietnam War
• books about advertising

Anything that you can tie in to Mad Men qualifies. If you can justify it to yourself, you’re all set.

Levels of Participation:

1. TV AD: Read 7 books—at least 2 fiction and 2 nonfiction.
2. FULL-PAGE AD: Read 5 books—at least 2 fiction and 2 nonfiction.
3. HALF-PAGE AD: Read 3 books—at least 1 fiction and 1 nonfiction.

Rules:

• Participants may join anytime before December 31, 2011.
• Re-reads, audiobooks, and overlaps with other challenges are fine.
• No need to list your books beforehand, and no need to write reviews.
  

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

2011 First in a Series Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Rosey at Rosey's Reviews is hosting the First in a Series Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge.

There is a list on the post about the challenge of the books to chose from. If you have a suggestion, please know that this challenge is for 1st in series urban fantasy, not paranormal romance, and the series has to follow the same main character, and the author has to be female.

More guidelines:

• Books read prior to 1/1/11 can be "counted".
• You can join at anytime.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. Some people have just a Goodreads page. You can keep track on there too!
• Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge.
• You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.
• It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so!!!

For more information and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Series Challenge Season 5

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Kathrin of Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic is hosting season 5 of the Series Challenge. Here's what she says:

The rules:
1) The challenge starts January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011.

2) You must read 3 or more books for this challenge.

3) With these books, you should finish the series or at least be up to date with it.

4) Crossovers with other challenges are perfectly alright.

5) Post a review on your blog and leave a link at the post I will set up on January 1, so I can keep track and others might find new series to enjoy.

6) Have fun!

If everything goes according to plan, I might even have a prize or two for one or two Season 5 winners. Woohoo!

To join, go to Series Challenge Season 5

Quirky Brown Reading Challenge 2011

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Brown Girl Book Speak is hosting the Quirky Brown Reading Challenge in 2011. She writes:

This challenge was inspired by a blog post on New Model Minority. The post talked about the hyper-marginalization of Black fiction and included a short but intriguing list of books. That list, or at least the authors on it, were begging to be part of a reading challenge. So, I bring you the Quirky Brown Reading Challenge. This challenge is more than about finishing a certain number of books, but about challenging the overly subscribed to depictions of the so-called “Black experience”. I hope participants also discover some of our lesser known contributions to American literature.

There will be a book selected to be read by challenge participants for a discussion around the halfway point (i.e. summer). Those who join the challenge before January 1, 2011 will be able to vote. The poll is in the sidebar on the Brown Girl Book Speak blog. There is a list of authors and titles here but, these are merely suggestions. The only requirement is that readers choose books by Black authors depicting an offbeat Black experience.

Levels of Participation:

I: 2 books
II: 3 books
III: 4 books
IV: 5+ books

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

2010 Virtual Advent Tour - EVENT

An annual event hosted by Kailana and Marg on its own dedicated blog

December 1 - 24, 2010

It is that time of year again and sign ups have started for the Annual Virtual Advent Tour. Kailana and Marg write:

This is the fifth year that we have hosted and we hope that the event has become an integral part of the book blogging community's holiday traditions.

The Virtual Advent tour first started when we pondered why should the kids get all the fun of opening a box on the advent calendar and finding a treat in there, and how could we have some blogging fun with a similar concept? So the Virtual Advent tour was born.

Each day anyone who wants to participate takes turns sharing a treat with our friends here in blogland. For example it could be something about your family traditions, recipes, your country's holiday traditions, or a favourite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever it is that you do during this time.

The tour starts Wednesday 1 December and run through until Friday December 24. Don't miss out - drop by the sign up page and reserve your tour spot!

2011 South Asian Author Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Swapna at S. Krishna's Books is planning on hosting the South Asian Author Challenge in 2011. Here is what she writes:

Hello everyone! As the year is quietly slipping away, I wanted to go ahead and let you know about the 2011 South Asian Challenge. For those of you who participated in 2010, I hope you will agree with the changes I’ve made and sign up again. For those of you who didn’t participate, I hope you will want to learn more about South Asia through this challenge! And for those of you who don’t have a blog and have no idea what a reading challenge even is? It’s simple: I challenge you to read books about South Asia and by South Asian authors during the calendar year of 2011.

What books are eligible for the 2011 South Asian Challenge?

There are two ways for a book to qualify for the South Asian Challenge

1. A book must be by a South Asian author. For these purposes, South Asia includes the following countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. There are no limitations on what the book can be about.
   
2. A book must be about South Asia. In this case, it can be set in a South Asian country or be about South Asians living abroad. It can also be a biography or memoir of a South Asian, or of a non-South Asian traveling or working in South Asia. In this case, the author does not need to be South Asian, as long as the subject matter focuses on the region, peoples, or cultures in some way.
   

Any type book qualifies, as long as it meets one of the two guidelines above - a cookbook, short story or essay collection, travel guide, etc...AND if only part of a book is about South Asia it still qualifies.

Other guidelines:

• Everyone is encouraged to participate.
• Reviews are not required. However, there is an awesome South Asian Review Database associated with this challenge.

There are several levels of participation:

• South Asian Encounter - 1 book
• South Asian Wanderer - 3 books
• South Asian Explorer - 5 books
• South Asian Adventurer - 7 books
• South Asian Hero/Heroine - 10 books
• South Asian Guru - Over 10 books (you can set your own goal)

The FAQ page for this challenge is an awesome resource. Sign ups begin on December 1st, so watch Swapna's blog for details and buttons!

Friday Reads - EVENT

A weekly event hosted by Rebecca at The Book Lady's Blog and Bethanne @thebookmaven

Friday Reads is a weekly Friday event which you can find on Twitter, Facebook and also over at The Book Lady's Blog. Here is what Rebecca writes about this event:

With the exception of my notoriously lazy Sundays, Friday is my favorite day of the week. My work is wrapping up, the weekend looms with the promise of rest, relaxation, and hours of reading, and Twitter explodes in a maelstrom of book recommendations and bookish conversation thanks to the phenomenon known as FridayReads (or #fridayreads, if we’re referring to the formal hashtag).

FridayReads was created by Bethanne Patrick (@thebookmaven), and it is beautiful in its simplicity: tell the world what you’re reading. Books, magazines, work papers, cereal boxes, inscrutable personalized license plates—it’s all good. And it’s all about celebrating and promoting literacy.

For a little over a year now, participants have shared their real-time reading selections on Twitter using the #fridayreads hashtag, and Miz Maven, as I call her, recently launched a FridayReads Facebook page so even if you don’t tweet, you can participant. And now the fun is going to continue because…

*drumroll*

The Book Lady’s Blog is now the official blog partner of FridayReads!

So if you aren’t on Twitter and you don’t use Facebook, but you want to participate in this weekly celebration of books and reading, you can do it here...

Here is a little about the event:

• Friday Reads includes everyone: readers, authors, writers, librarians, booksellers, critics, bloggers, editors, publicists, salespeople, publishers. (See this piece in Shelf Awareness for more details.)
• YOU CAN WIN STUFF (every week, randomly selected FridayReads participants receive a variety of books and bookish prizes)

Participate by visiting The Book Lady's Blog every Friday and leaving a comment on what you are reading; or if you are on Twitter, tweet your response using the hashtag #fridayreads, or drop by the Facebook page.

2011 Debut Authors Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

For some reason I missed this one last year (but I managed to post about the 2009 challenge - go figure!)...but this will be the third year that The Debut Authors Challenge is hosted by The Story Siren. She writes:

I'm extremely excited to be hosting the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! I've worked out a few kinks throughout the years and I'm hoping that this year will be even better than the last!

General information and guidelines:

• The objective of the challenge is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit!
• Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.
• You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.
• You can join at anytime.
• Novels must be read between January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011. That means, those of you that have read arc forms of the titles early will not be able to count those toward your challenge totals.
  
• You can use debuts from other countries, but the novel cannot be previously released in your county.
• Nonbloggers must publish reviews in a public place (read more details on that on the page about the challenge)

Check out more guidelines by visiting the FAQ page.

Qualifying Books:

1. Books must be a Young Adult or Middle Grade novel.
2. This must be the authors debut with a release date in 2011.
3. If an author has a previous novel published under adult fiction/nonfiction or children's fiction/nonfiction, they can still qualify for the challenge if they are releasing their YA or MG debut (The Story Siren has a list of books which qualify on the page about the challenge).

Sound like fun? Go to the sign up post to join.

A Year of Feminist Classics Reading Project

January 1 - December 31, 2011

A Year of Feminist Classics is a reading project started by Amy, Ana, Emily Jane and Iris. They have started a dedicated blog for the project and write:

The project will work a little like an informal reading group: for the whole of 2011, we’ll be reading a book a month from this list of classic feminist fiction and non-fiction, and each of us will be in charge of the subsequent discussion for three months.

These discussions will be structured as follows: at the beginning of the month, the host in charge of that month will write an introductory post on this blog, reminding participants of what we’ll be reading and providing some historical context.

Then, later that month, she will post a series of discussion questions and invite readers to use them as points of departure for their own thoughts. You don’t necessarily need to answer these questions when sharing your impressions of the book; you may either integrate them in our post or use another approach altogether (and perhaps add to the discussion by bringing up points the host hasn’t thought of herself). Participants can either join the discussion on the comments section or post on their own blogs, which means you don’t necessarily need to be a book blogger yourself to join in.

Finally, at the end of the month, the host will post her thoughts on the book either here or on her own blog, as well as write a round-up post and collect the links of all the participants who decided to join in for that particular title.

It is not necessary to commit to all 12 books in order to join. To learn more visit the dedicated blog; to sign up, visit the introductory post about the project.

Back to the Classics Challenge 2011

January 1 - June 30, 2011

Sarah from Sarah Reads Too Much is hosting the Back to the Classics Challenge in 2011. She writes:

I am constructing this challenge to encourage myself to read more Classic Literature... you know, all those books that we want to read "someday". Well, the time is now. I hope you will join me!

Guidelines:

• This challenge is open to anyone who would like to participate.
• You can join in at any point.
• If you do not have a blog of your own, you can leave comments on the post about the challenge.
• You can list you book choices before the challenge starts, or as you go along.... whatever works best for you.

The goals to complete the challenge:

1. A Banned Book
2. A Book with a Wartime Setting (can be any war)
3. A Pulitzer Prize (Fiction) Winner or Runner Up: a list can be found here
4. A Children's/Young Adult Classic
5. 19th Century Classic
6. 20th Century Classic
7. A Book you think should be considered a 21st Century Classic
8. Re-Read a book from your High School/College Classes

Books in this Challenge can be used toward other challenges as well, but there must be 8 different books for these goals.

To learn more and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Femme Fatale Reading Challenge 2011

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Whitney from She is Too Fond of Books is hosting the Femme Fatale Reading Challenge for 2011. She writes:

I've been going through a bit of a fad with seductive women in literature or femme fatales, and wanting to read more on the subject matter thought I'd make a challenge out of it.

"A femme fatale, translating to "Deadly Woman" in french, is an alluring, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire. Often this leads them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations." ~ Wikipedia

Guidelines for the challenge:

• read and/or watch as many femme fatale related items as you wish (see levels below)
• Cross-overs to other challenges are fine
• It is not required to make a list beforehand
• You don't need a blog to join

Levels:

1. Enchantress -- 3 femme fatale items
2. Jezebel -- 6 femme fatale items
3. Dragon Lady -- 12 femme fatale items

To learn more and for sign ups, visit the post about the challenge.

P.G. Wodehouse Reading Challenge

December 1, 2010 - December 31, 2013

Andrea from The Little Bookworm is hosting a three year challenge to read P.G. Wodehouse novels. The P. G. Wodehouse Challenge is being hosted on its own dedicated blog. Andrea writes:

I am setting myself to the challenge of reading as much P.G. Wodehouse as I can. I hope to focus on the Blandings Castle series in 2011 and the Jeeves series in 2012. And, if I'm still willing to read more, to read some of his other series and works in 2013. So this challenge is going to be a long one.

Andrea has established some participation levels:

1. The Blandings Castle Level: read the entire Blandings Castle series including novels and short stories
2. The Jeeves and Wooster series: read the entire Jeeves and Wooster series including novels and short stories
3. Free for all level: read other Wodehouse stories or novels or any other series. It's completely up to you
   

Sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

50 States Challenge 2011

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Tasha from Book Obsessed is hosting the 50 States Challenge in 2011. The goal of this challenge is to read books that are set in each of the fifty states.

Guidelines:

• Your books can be of any genre and any format (ie. paperback, ebook, audiobook, etc.).
• No short stories.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine.
• You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.
• Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
  

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.